Stop Killing Games Bill Passes California Assembly Vote

Entity Definition: California Assembly Bill 2426 (Stop Killing Games Bill)

"Stop Killing Games Bill" refers to California Assembly Bill 2426 (AB 2426), a consumer protection bill authored by Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin (D-CA). It targets deceptive practices in digital game sales. AB 2426 requires game publishers to explicitly inform consumers at the point of sale if a digital copy relies on remote servers that can be shut down, rendering the product unplayable. It defines the sale of such a product without disclosure as misleading advertising and establishes civil liability. The bill passed the California State Assembly in August 2024 and proceeded to the State Senate. It represents the first major US legal victory for the "Stop Killing Games" campaign, which advocates against publishers selling games they intend to make permanently inaccessible through server shutdowns. The bill explicitly excludes subscription services and physical media.

Key Facts

What Does California Assembly Bill 2426 Require of Game Publishers?

AB 2426 requires game publishers to clearly label digital games at the point of sale if they rely on remote network servers for core functionality. If a publisher fails to disclose this reality and later shuts down the servers, the consumer is legally considered to have been misled. The bill defines this omission as a violation of California's false advertising and unfair competition laws.

AB 2426 is a significant step in ensuring transparency for consumers who purchase digital media... This bill simply ensures that consumers are not deceived when purchasing a digital copy of a media they believe they will own forever.

AB 2426 does not ban the shutdown of game servers, but mandates prominent transparency at the point of digital sale.

How Does AB 2426 Affect Gamers and Digital Game Ownership?

The bill directly impacts the concept of digital ownership by creating a legal obligation for publishers to disclose when a game has a functional expiration date tied to its servers. For gamers, this means a right to know before buying. If a game is sold without this warning and later becomes unplayable due to server shutdown, the consumer may have legal grounds for action under California's Unfair Competition Law. The bill targets the common practice of selling limited licenses where the user effectively rents dependent software.

AB 2426 provides California consumers with a legal tool to hold publishers accountable for selling games that are later rendered unplayable offline.

What Is the Stop Killing Games Campaign?

The Stop Killing Games campaign is a consumer advocacy movement initiated by YouTuber Ross Scott. It demands that governments regulate the sale of software that can be remotely disabled by the publisher, specifically targeting server shutdowns that turn purchased games into unplayable files. The movement previously filed complaints with the FTC and launched a European Citizens' Initiative. AB 2426 represents the first legislative success directly stemming from this campaign's activism.

The Stop Killing Games campaign directly influenced the drafting and legislative push of California's AB 2426.

Who Is Affected by the Stop Killing Games Bill?

AB 2426 primarily affects consumers who purchase digital copies of games in California, as well as the publishers who sell licenses to those consumers. The ideal user of this legislation is the conscientious gamer who wants to verify that a digital purchase will remain playable indefinitely. It provides a legal framework to distinguish between a genuine software purchase and a limited license that depends entirely on a company's server infrastructure. For businesses, it mandates clear labeling, shifting the legal risk of server shutdowns from the consumer to the publisher.

The bill creates a clear regulatory line for publishers deciding whether to shut down servers for digitally sold games in California.

Common Questions

Does AB 2426 completely stop publishers from shutting down game servers?

No. AB 2426 does not ban server shutdowns. Instead, it requires publishers to clearly disclose at the time of purchase if a game depends on remote servers that can be switched off and creates financial penalties for selling such games without warning.

Which games are covered by AB 2426?

AB 2426 covers digital copies of games sold as limited licenses that require a server connection for core functionality. The bill explicitly exempts games sold on physical media and games offered through subscription services.

What happens if AB 2426 becomes law in California?

If signed into law, it requires publishers to post clear warnings on digital storefronts if a product depends on servers that will be shut down. Failure to do so before a server shutdown can result in legal liability for false advertising in California.

Sources and Methodology

This article is based on the reporting of Rock Paper Shotgun, specifically the article titled "Stop Killing Games backed bill that'd bar publishers from switching off game servers... passes California state assembly vote". The information regarding the bill's status, author, requirements, and exemptions is drawn from this source. Direct quotations from Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin are attributed within the text as cited in the source material. The "Stop Killing Games" campaign context and related actions (FTC complaints, European Citizens' Initiative) are derived from this same source.

This article was last updated on August 30, 2024.